Noguera



J. NOGUERA 2,750,633

TING MEANS FOR NNING PARATORY MACE-II Filed Jan. 1954 June 19. 1956 ROLLER WE AND ROLLER WEIGHTING MEANS FOR SPINNING AND PREPARATORY MACHINES Joseph Nognera, Salford, England, assignor to Casahlaneas High Draft Company Limited, Manchester, England, a British company Appiication January 5, 1954, Serial No. 402,331

Claims priority, application Great Britain January 23, 1953 flaims. (Cl. 19137) This invention relates to roller weighting means for textile fibre drafting mechanisms having at least three consecutive drafting roller lines, the means being of the kind employing a saddle assembly to bear on top rollers of roller pairs in the aforesaid lines under the action of a spring or other weight exerting a downward pull on the saddle assembly through the intermediary of a dependent weighting hook.

In the operation of such weighting means it is desirable to allow for removal of the weighting pressure from the top rollers in the front roller line whilst pressure continues to be applied to the remaining top rollers, and various forms of saddle assembly have been proposed to make this possible. In one such form the saddle assembly includes a first saddle for weighting the top rollers, other than the front top rollers, and a second saddle to which the weighting hook is connected and which is arranged to bear down on the front top rollers and on the first saddle. The second saddle is then made displaceable in relation to the first saddle into a rearward position in which it is retained, by the first saddle, and the weight on the front rollers is relieved. In another known form, separate front and rear saddles are pivotally carried in tandem by a bridging member to which the weighting hook is attached intermediate the saddles. The front saddle can then be turned about its pivot to lift its forward end and relieve the weight on the front top rollers, pawl means being provided on the bridging memher to retain the said front saddle in its raised position.

A main object of the present invention is to provide an improved roller weighting means which can readily be manipulated to remove weighting pressure from the front top rollers and which is also particularly applicable in cases where it is desirable for the weighting hook to depend between the front and second roller lines and where the saddle assembly comprises a front saddle bearing upon top rollers in the front and second roller lines.

According to the invention there is provided roller weighting means of the kind and for the purpose specified having a first saddle adapted to weight top rollers in the front and second roller lines and a second saddle adapted to weight top rollers in each rearward line, wherein the second saddle has a front projection which extends over and is pivotally connected to the first saddle and the saddle assembly is arranged to slide as a whole on the said top rollers in the second and each rearward roller line between a fully operative weighting position, in which downward pressure is applied to all the roller lines, and a retained rearward weighting position, in which the said pressure on the front roller line is removed, means being provided for limiting downward angular displacement of the front end of said first saddle in said rearward weighting position. The weighting hook is conveniently pivoted to the projection on the second saddle and, in the operative position of the assembly, depends between the front and second roller lines, the means for limiting downward angular displacement of nited States Patent 6 ice the first saddle being in the form of a downward extension on said saddle which is arranged to abut the front edge of the weighting hook in the rearward weighting position of the assembly.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one embodiment thereof will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation showing the invention applied to three consecutive lines of conventional drafting roller pairs, the top rollers of the pairs being in section and the bottom rollers and usual endless belts being indicated diagrammatically in chain dotted lines, and

Figure 2 is a rear detail view of the saddle assembly taken in the direction of the arrow II in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the three pairs of drafting rollers 1, 2 and 3 which are illustrated constitute the drafting rollers in one drafting system of a conventional textile fibre drafting mechanism having a number of such systems supported side-by-side on roller stands along the length of the mechanism, corresponding rollers in the systems being arranged in axial alignment. The mechanism thus has three consecutive lines of roller pairs extending along the length thereof, the top rollers of each two adjoining systems being joined, in known manner, by intermediate roller necks 1a, 2a and 3a. The rear ends of conventional co-operating belt loops 4 are carried, also in known manner, by the roller pairs 2 in the second roller line.

To weight the joined top rollers of adjoining systems the saddle assembly is arranged to bear downwardly on the roller necks 1a, 2a and 3a, this assembly including a first or front saddle 5 which is arranged to span and bear on the necks 1a and 2a in the front and second roller lines. The forward end of this first saddle 5 is provided, on its under surface, with a curved transverse seating 5a for engaging the front roller neck in, this seating merging into a downward extension 5b on the saddle under surface. This downward extension 51) has a rearwardly directed bearing face which, in the fully operative position of the saddle assembly as illustrated, is located a little behind the front roller pair 1. Behind the downward extension 5b the under surface of the saddle 5 is provided with a shallow transverse recess 5 which merges at the rear into a flat seating 50 for bearing on the roller neck 2a in the second roller line. To reduce wear, a facing strip 6 of wood or other appropriate material is preferably let in to the seating 5c of the saddle 5.

The saddle assembly also includes a second saddle 7 which is aligned with the saddle 5 and has an integral projection 7a at the forward end which is arranged to extend over the saddle 5. The under surface 7b of the second saddle 7 is flattened to provide an elongated seating for bearing on the roller neck 3a in the third roller line. This seating 7b, which may also have a bearing strip 8 of wood or other material let in to the surface thereof, extends over approximately the whole length of the saddle 7 proper to allow both for adjustment of the third roller line away from or towards the second roller line as is sometimes required in such mechanisms and also for sliding movement of the saddle 7 over the neck 3a.

The under surface of the second saddle projection 7a, which overlies the first saddle 5, is cut back at 70 to clear the second roller line and the underlying first saddle 5, there being a dependent lug 9 which extends from the under surface of the second saddle projection 7a, towards the front end thereof, and enters a recess 5d opening into the top of the first saddle 5 approximately mid-way along the length of the latter. The lug 9 is pivotally secured in the first saddle recess 5d by a transverse pivot pin 10.

the saddle assembly rearwardly as a whole.

Behind the pivotal connection between the saddles, the first saddle 5 is provided with a slot 52 which extends therethrough from the under surface to the top surface and which opens laterally through the front part of the curved wall of the transverse recess 5 A corresponding recess '70 also opens through the under surface of the projection 7a on the second saddle '7. The upper end of an elongated weighting hook fl is inserted through the aforesaid slot Se in the first saddle 5 and into the recess 7d in the second saddle projection '70 where it is pivotally secured by a transverse pin 12. This weighting heck do pends from its pivot between the front and second roller lines, and has two shallow opposing bends along the ength thereof as illustrated whereby the intermediate portion of the hook is set forward in relation to a line joining the weighting hook l1 and the lower hook end so as to lie well clear of the second line of rollers. The lower end of the weighting hook 11 is, of course, intended for connection to an appropriate weight in any well-known manner. In the fully operative weighting position as illustrated, a portion of the rear edge of the hook 11 projects into the transverse recess 5 in the saddle 5 through the aforesaid lateral slot opening At the trout end of the second saddle projection 7a there is provided a finger piece 7a which Will be readily accessible in the front of the mechanism and will enable the whole saddle assembly and weighting hook to be lifted slightly, against the weighting pressure. Behind this finger piece 76 the second saddle projection 7a is formed with a U-slot 7f which opens into the top of the projection and provides a bearing for an end support 13a of a conventional top roller clearer 13. This U-shaped bearing 'Ff may be provided with a removable lining 14 as shown. To the top of the second saddle projection 7a behind the U-shaped bearing 7f therein is secured one arm of an L-shaped bracket 15 the other arm of which upstands from the top of the second saddle projection 7a and provides a front abutment for an end support 16a of a conventional rear top roller clearer. 16. The attachment of the bracket 15 to the second saddle projection 7a is by way of a screw 17 which enters a tapped aperture in the projection Za through an elongated slot in the bracket arm. This attachment permits ready removal of the bracket or adjustment thereof in relation to the second saddle.

For the purpose of removing weighting pressure from the front roller line, whilst maintaining the aforesaid pressure on the second and preceding roller lines, all that is necessary is to lift slightly on the finger piece 72 on the front end of the second saddle projection '70 to relieve the weight on the front roller neck la and then to push When the saddle assembly is thus displaced, the seatings 5c and 7!) of the first and second saddles Will ride rearwardly over the associated roller necks 2a and 3a on which they bear until the roller neck 2a in the second roller line becomes engaged in the transverse recess Sr in the under surface of the first saddle. When this occurs the forward end of the first saddle will be clear of the front roller neck in and can therefore be allowed to drop until the projection 5b of the first saddle abuts against the front edge of the weighting hook ill. The saddle assembly will in this position continue to apply weight to the top rollers in the second and rear roller lines whilst the top rollers in the front lines can be freely removed as required. To return the saddle assembly to its normal full working position, all that is necessary is to lift again slightly on the finger piece 7e and to pull the saddle assembly forward until the seating 5a of the saddle 5 again engages the front roller neck 1a.

The invention has been described as applied to a drafting mechanism having three roller lines but it may equally well be applied to a mechanism having four lines of rollers. In this case the second saddle will be arranged to bear on roller necks in the third and fourth roller lines and a projection in the form of a bridging member will be connected thereto. The forward end of this bridging member will overlie the first saddle and have the weighting hook connected to it as in the described embodiment.

I claim:

1'. Roller weighting means of the kind and for the purpose specified having a first saddle adapted to weight top rollers in the front and second roller lines and a second saddle .dapted to weight top rollers in each rearward line, wherein the second saddle has a front projection which extends over and is pivotally connected to the first saddle and the saddle assembly is arranged to slide as a whole on the said top rollers in the second and each rearward roller line between a fully operative weighting position, in which downward pressure is applied to all the roller lines, and a retained rearward weighting position, in which the said pressure on the front roller line is removed, means being provided for limiting the downward displacement of the front end of said first saddle in said. rearward weighting position.

2. Roller weighting means as claimed in claim I wherein the weighting hook is pivoted to the second saddle projection and is shaped to depend, when the saddle assembly is positioned on the roller lines, between front and second roller lines, the means for limiting the downward angular displacement of the front end of said first saddle being constituted by a downward extension on the saddle which is arranged to abut the front edge of the weighting hook in the rearward weighting position of the assembly.

3. Roller weighting means as claimed in claim 2 wherein the under surface of the first saddle is shaped to provide a curved transverse seating in front of the extension for engaging a roller neck between adjoining top rollers in the front roller line and, behind the extension, to provide a flat seating for slidably engaging a roller neck between adjoining top rollers of the second roller line, there being a transverse recess between said flat seating and the extension which engages over the roller neck in the second line to locate the assembly in the rearward weighting position, and wherein the under surface of the second saddle is shaped to provide an elongated flat seating for slidably engaging a neck between adjoining top rollers in the third roller line.

4. Roller weighting means as claimed in claim 3 wherein the weighting hook depends through a slot in the first saddle located between the extension and transverse recess, and opening laterally into the latter.

5. Roller weighting means for textile fibre drafting mechanisms having at least three pairs of drafting rollers comprising a pressure weighting device for the top rollers of the pairs of drafting rollers comprising a first saddle having a recess opening into the top thereof, a second saddle having a dependent lug received by said recess, a transverse pivot pin on the first saddle and extending through said lug to provide a pivotal connection between said saddles, and seating means on said saddles for mounting the saddles on the drafting mechanism for sliding movement upon the top rollers so that the saddles may be slid to one position in which the seating means engages all of the top rollers and to another position in which the seating means is clear of the front top roller but engages the two rear top rollers.

6. Roller weighting means for textile fibre drafting mechanisms having at least three pairs of drafting rollers comprising a pressure weighting device for the top rollers of the pairs of drafting rollers comprising a first saddle, a second saddle operatively connected to the first saddle, seatings on the saddles for engaging the top rollers, at least one seating on each saddle having sliding engagement with the two rear top rollers, and a forwardly extending finger piece on the second saddle whereby the two saddles can be lifted slightly, to disengage the front top roller seating from the front top roller, and slid rearwardly on the two rear top rollers so that the front top roller is relieved of pressure from the saddles and the two rear top rollers remain under pressure from the saddles and lifted slightly from its rearward position and slid forwardly to a position in which the saddles exert pressure on all of the top rollers.

7. Roller weighting means for textile fibre drafting mechanisms having at least three pairs of drafting rollers and a top roller clearer comprising a pressure weighting saddle, means for mounting said saddle on the drafting mechanism for sliding movement between two positions in one of which the saddle bears upon all of the top rollers of the pairs of rollers and in the other of which the saddle is moved clear of the front top roller, and an upwardly directed U-shaped bearing on said saddle adapted to receive an end support of the roller clearer.

8. Roller weighting means for textile fibre drafting mechanisms having at least three pairs of drafting rollers and a top roller clearer comprising a pressure weighting saddle, means for mounting said saddle on the drafting mechanism for sliding movement between two positions in one of which the saddle bears upon all of the top rollers of the pairs of rollers and in the other of which the saddle is moved clear of the front top roller, and a substantially L-shaped bracket having one arm adjustably and releasably secured to the saddle and its other arm upstanding and adapted to provide a front abutment for an end support of the roller clearer.

9. In a textile fibre drafting mechanism having a series of pairs of drafting rollers, a pressure weighting device adapted to weight the top rollers of the pairs of rollers comprising a first saddle and a second saddle adapted to be mounted in the mechanism for sliding movement as a unit selectively to positions in one of which the saddles will exert pressure upon all of the top rollers and in another of which the saddles will exert pressure upon all the top rollers save the front top roller, said second saddle having a seating adapted to engage the rearward top roller in both positions of the saddles, said first saddle having seatings adapted to engage the front and second top rollers when the saddles are in their said one position and to be clear of the front and second top rollers when the saddles are in their said another position and having a further seating adapted to engage the second top roller when the saddles are in their said another position.

10. In a textile fibre drafting mechanism having a series of pairs of drafting rollers, a first pressure saddle, a second pressure saddle, said second saddle having a seating, said first saddle having three seatings, said saddles adapted to be mounted in the mechanism and interconnected for sliding movement as a unit selectively to positions in one of which one of the first saddle seatings will engage the front top roller and a second seating of the first saddle will engage the second top roller and in another of which the first and second first saddle seatings will be clear of the front and second top rollers and the third first saddle seating will engage the second top roller, the seating on the second saddle adapted to engage the rearward top roller in both positions of the saddles, the first and second seatings of the first saddle adapted to interlock with the front and second top rollers when they are in engagement therewith to maintain the saddles in their selected position.

No references cited. 

